Argentina's Bergoglio elected first Latin American pope

White smoke rises from the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel meaning that cardinals elected a new pope on the second day of their secret conclave on March 13, 2013 at the Vatican.— AFP PHOTO

VATICAN CITY – Argentina's Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected Pope Francis on Wednesday, becoming the first Latin American pontiff in an astonishing decision that raises hopes of greater openness for the troubled Catholic Church. The 76-year-old railway worker's son emerged smiling onto the balcony of St Peter's Basilica to cries of "Long live the pope!" and devoted his first prayer to his predecessor Benedict XVI as tens of thousands of pilgrims cheered.

The first non-European pope in nearly 1,300 years called for "fraternity" among the world's 1.2 billion Catholics after Benedict's scandal-ridden papacy.

"It seems that my brother cardinals have gone to the ends of the earth (to find a pope)," Francis said, referring to his native Argentina, which erupted in celebrations at his appointment.

"Now, we take up this journey... A journey of fraternity, of love, of trust among us," he said.

The former Jesuit priest from Buenos Aires had barely figured in the pre-vote speculation, although he is believed to have finished runner-up to Benedict in 2005.

World leaders hailed the election of a pope seen as a moderate conservative who chose to name himself after the ascetic St Francis of Assisi.

US President Barack Obama said Bergoglio was "a champion of the poor and the most vulnerable among us."

Argentina's President Cristina Kirchner wished her fellow countryman "a fruitful pastoral mission." Justin Welby, the new leader of the world's Anglicans, said he was looking forward to "working together" with the new pope.

Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said the choice by 115 cardinals in a secret conclave in the Sistine Chapel had "widened the perspective of the Church."

Sergio Rubin, religious writer for the Buenos Aires-based newspaper Clarin, said that, like pope John Paul II, Bergoglio was "conservative at the level of doctrine, and progressive on social issues."

Argentina's Jorge Bergoglio, elected Pope Francis I (C) appears at the window of St Peter's Basilica's balcony after being elected the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church on March 13, 2013 at the Vatican.— AFP PHOTO

The election was seen as recognition of the Church's rapid growth in Latin America, which is now home to 40 per cent of the world's Catholics, in contrast to its decline in Europe.

In a rain-soaked St Peter's Square, Argentinians who had gathered to see the white smoke were stunned.

Julio Cesar Attaremo, 42, who was waving an Argentinian flag, said: "He's very humble and he's someone who really goes out to the people.

"We're very happy and proud. Not just for Argentina but for the whole of South America."

In the Argentinian capital, the faithful attending mass at the main cathedral gave Francis a standing ovation as the news came through.

There had been growing calls both within and outside the Church for the next pope to come from the southern hemisphere for the first time, but Bergoglio ranked just 40th on one bookmakers' list of pre-conclave favourites.

The Vatican said his inauguration mass would take place on Tuesday – a significant date in the Catholic calendar because it is the Feast of St Joseph, patron saint of the universal Church.

The Argentinian of Italian descent – the 266th pope – told the faithful he would visit a shrine to the Virgin Mary in his first act as pope on Thursday, less than a day after his election. The Vatican said he could head to the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.

White smoke earlier billowed from the chimney on the Sistine Chapel and the bells of St Peter's Basilica rang out, signalling a successful election had taken place after five rounds of voting – one more than when Benedict was elected in 2005.

Vatican expert Bruno Bartoloni said Bergoglio was "a solid, pragmatic man who can do something concrete, notably to reform the Roman Curia" – the internal workings of the Vatican. AFP